Quick Fixes to Solve Playback Issues
- Close and Reopen the Hulu App: If your Hulu app’s menus or video simply aren’t behaving the way they normally should, a good first step is to fully close and reopen the Hulu app. This process can be different depending on your device, but the goal is to shut down the app completely, rather than minimizing it, and then reopening it to see if that solves the problem.
- Run a Speed Test: If the app still isn’t behaving, it’s worth running a speed test to see if your overall internet connection is suffering. Ookla’s Speedtest and Netflix’s Fast.com are good options, and should quickly show how well your connection is performing. For reference, Hulu recommends at least 16 Mbps for 4K content, 8 Mbps for live streams, and 3 Mbps for its streaming library.
- Restart Your Streaming Device: If your connection seems stable and plenty fast enough, try rebooting your streaming device. Again, this process often differs from product to product, and a good practice is to wait a few minutes between powering down the device and starting it back up.
- Check Your Other Apps and Services: It’s worth finding out if it’s truly just the Hulu app that’s at issue, or whether something more widespread is at play. Load up some other streaming services and apps to see how well they perform. If you notice similar slowdowns there too, it might be worth trying out another device.
Steps That Require a Little More Digging
- Check for Recent Updates: If your streaming device and/or the Hulu app itself recently received an automatic update (or if you haven’t manually updated in a while), it might be worth checking on the latest version to see if something’s up. In some instances, new app updates can introduce bugs that disrupt performance and if that’s the case, many companies are relatively quick to release patched versions. In any event, it’s worth checking with your streaming device’s respective app library to ensure everything’s up to date.
- Clear Your App’s Cache and Data: If your device and app allow it, try clearing out locally stored data, including temporary files. Depending on how thorough that process is, you might need to log back into your account, so have your login credentials handy.
- Uninstall and Reinstall the Hulu App: If things still haven’t improved, try completely removing and then re-installing the Hulu app. Again, it’s a good idea to have your login info on hand for when you start back up again.
- Consider Upgrading Your Internet: If your troubleshooting revealed it’s not just Hulu that’s suffering in your household and your overall internet speed is just too low, it might be time to consider upgrading to a faster plan or, if available, a different provider. If you decide to look into this route, however, it’s worth testing your speed several times beforehand, including at different times of day. Maybe it’s just an issue during peak hours or during prime time. If so, perhaps just a bump into the next speed class up will be enough.
Hopefully these steps can help you clear up any playback issues you might be having with your Hulu app. And if you’re still having trouble, try getting in touch with the company to see if they can lend some insight. Beyond that, if you’ve come across some helpful tips and tricks that could help your fellow cord cutter, feel free to comment down below!
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